Appreciating the sound of silence with Quiet Parks International

What does it mean for a place to be truly quiet? It’s a question I’ve been pondering over the last several months following a webinar from the Keystone Trails Association and Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. They had a discussion with Quiet Parks International – a nonprofit committed to saving quiet for the benefit of all life. Saving the quiet. What does that mean? Quiet’s not something I’ve ever thought much about. Growing up with my loud family, noisy traffic, ringing cell phones and roaring air conditioning, quiet was never an option. But, I’ve certainly experienced quiet on hiking trails. Right? Wrong. There’s always some sort of noise. If it’s not airplanes above or nearby cars and trucks, it’s a speaker from a selfish hiker or the hum of a factory or data center. Man, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced real quiet. But what does it matter? How bad can a little noise be. Actually, it can be really bad. It can lead to hearing loss, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular damage and more. But not only does noise affect us, it can affect the wildlife around us. Noise can disrupt wildlife behavior, migration patterns and communication. So what can we do and where can we go to experience quiet? Is it even possible? That’s what this episode’s guest is trying to find out. On this episode, I speak with Matthew Mikkelsen. Matt is an award-winning sound designer, field recordist, filmmaker, conservationist and chairperson for Quiet Parks International’s Board of Directors. Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails AssociationPurple Lizard MapsPennsylvania Parks and Forests FoundationSisters' SunflowersDiscover Clarion CountyGo Laurel Highlands Support the showVisit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected. Hosting, production and editing: Christian AlexandersenMusic: Jon SauerGraphics: Matt Davis